A/N: I DECIDED TO DO A FACE LIFT ON THE STORY. A SECOND GRAMMAR/ SPELL CHECK. ALSO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING MADE SENSE TO YOU GUYS, THE READERS. THANKS A LOT FOR THE SUPPORT AND HOPEFULLY I GET THIS RIGHT...

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYONE FROM NARUTO...BUT ONLY IF I DID (evil cackle)...

*This is also my first fanfic. Hopefully you like. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW...it helps me get better.

Matsuri pov

I guess it's been like this for a long time now. Gaara, he is my sensei and also my first love. When it all hit me, I didn't know what to think. It was the day my teacher put his life on the line to save me from the four nin that came to our village to challenge him. I was so thankful that day. Since then, I have vowed that I would not only die for the man that saved me, but for the man I loved. The man that later became the Kazekage of our village Suna, the hidden sand.

As I get out the shower and dress for yet another day of duty as a shinobi, I have a million things running through my mind.

Gaara...I will protect you just like you did me that day. I recall saying as I wrap my leg.

My main objective when I decided to become a ninja was to become an Anbu member. I started out training really hard and then I became Gaara's apprentice. It's obvious I don't take that title lightly. He knows, anything he needs, I will satisfy and what he wants right now is for me to be strong. Each day I continue to work hard to make sure he's proud of me. As a top Chunin I have my master Gaara-sama to thank. I did most of my training under him but sometimes under Temari-chan and Kankuro-san when Gaara-sama was too tied up. I often wonder what happens when I get that rank, that higher position? What happens if I graduate to Anbu and instead of seeing Gaara everyday I end up seeing him once a week, if I'm lucky?

Now I'm on my way out the door. I check my bag as normal. Kunai, bandages, food pills, ointments and most important my Jouhyou… Ever since Gaara-sensei taught me to wield this weapon, it has been my only weapon of choice and I have perfected quit a few jutsu's with it. I'm dashing through the Suna sand and hot air in route to the Kazekage's tower. At the door I'm stopped an asked to flash the special crest as a guy does a body clone scan on me to make sure I'm not an imposture. Yes, it's that serious around here. If this place is penetrated, all hell would break loose. The main point of it all is to protect the Kazekage of our village this means at all costs.

These extra precautions have been taking place since our village was infiltrated by the Akatsuke that time. It still haunts me as I don't tend to recount the event often. Every time I do I start to question myself. What would have happened if...if Gaara-sensei...

"Ok, Matsuri-chan you're cleared," the guard nods waving me through.

"Arigato." I say passing the area.

On my way up the stairs to Kazekage's office I start to drift again. I stop mid-step, fist clenched tightly on the wall. What if something would have...

"Dammit Matsuri!"I hiss under my breath. I couldn't do anything then. I was weak.

Cut it out! I in scream inwardly shaking my head free of these negative thoughts. I continue walking up the stairs and stop once more just as reach his door. I probably do this every day before entering Gaara's office. I can't imagine what would have become of me if Bachan hadn't done what she did for Gaara that day. The day he laid cold on the ground. Lifeless. It hurt my stomach just to remember. Because of her, he is with us now. For that reason he is my most special person and I have made an oath to be strong and protect him. I won't lose him again. No matter what.

Gaara pov

It's a quiet night like most. At 3am there aren't many people awake in Suna . As I do most nights, I'm here atop the Kazekage building. Watching over the village. It's my job as Kazekage to protect them; so, I can not afford to sleep. Even without Shukaku, I am eternally restless. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes but that is the maximum. It seems a bit unnatural but night after night I stand here and wait.

I often wonder if people can see my change. Or if they just pretend to see it due to my title. I now have a burning desire to make sure each person in this village is safe. That's a priority. Before I was Kazekage my first student was kidnapped. Matsuri. I think her name slowly. I need to make sure that never happens again. Failure is not an option in that respect. For this reason I can not sleep. Everything about me is different now. Life before this point was full of black nothingness. Hatred. Anger. I am no longer a jinchuriki. And can see the errors I have made in the past clearly.

That girl, Matsuri, she has remained my student till this day. She now swears to protect me. Her dedication is very apparent and I'm often at odds when she is around. Though I can't pin point what it is that is happening, I feel it when she isn't around as well. Since I've been experiencing new emotions, I am working on a way to express them but for now I keep them to myself. Dealing with people is far more complex than any ninjutsu I have had to learn. I do believe with time I may improve with "feelings". My goal is to understand myself as well everyone around me, no matter how difficult the task.

However as Kazekage I will always keep my vow to protect Suna and its citizens first, no matter what. Just like that night. I would even give my life again if I had to.

Later that day

It's a very slow paced morning. Though I am glad there are less papers on my desk than usual paper work is also a part of being the Kazekage; this duty I must fulfill too. Today there is a very important meeting. A festival is coming. Once Temari and Kankuro get here we will discuss the business matters ahead. The elders have decided to gather a round table with me. A lot has changed since I have become the Kazekage. I have to be prepared for anything. The elders are my advisers; that said they oppose a lot of what I do- and most things I say. Instead of being honest about their fears, they use the guise of me being 'young' and 'apathetic'.

I know deep down they still see the one tailed beast in me. The bijuu that made me a ruthless and black-hearted killer; a weapon to be controlled and used. The truth was, Shukaku was gone. Unfortunately the mentality of people wasn't that easy to remove. They are set stubbornly in their ways but I will bare with them, to protect Suna.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Enter." I say sullenly still looking at my desk of papers.

"Good morning. Gaara-sensei." Matsuri says with a waving gesture.

I don't answer back.

"Would you like any thing for breakfast today?" She asks walking toward my desk.

"No." I replied not bothering to look up.

She does this everyday. 'To take care of you is one of my duties to the Kazekage.' She replied once when I questioned her as to why she is so concerned with my state of being. 'You are my sensei and there for a precious person to me.' She would continue. That day was when I started to have strange thoughts toward her. I had to remind myself she was my student, a very talented shinobi, an asset to the village. That should have been enough... 'It is only right that I serve our Kazekage who protects this village everyday.' She would add. Since then I have thought back to her words many days and especially on my sleepless nights.

Matsuri pov

This morning is shaping up to be like any other. Gaara-sama. He is always grumpy in the mornings when he sees a fresh pile of paper work on his desk. I can't help but stare at him sitting there behind his desk. I have stood here countless mornings silently confessing my undying affection for him. But as I said before, he is the Kazekage and my sensei, is it inappropriate for me to think of him in this light? That question had posed its self each time I thought about finally telling him. It just kept getting harder and harder to ignore. The beating of my heart was unbearable when with him.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Enter," Gaara-sama calls out looking toward the door.

Temari and Kankuro walk in with files and food in hand.

"Good morning Gaara, Matsuri." Temari-chan says placing the folders and plate on Gaara-sama's desk. "This is the agenda for today's meeting Gaara. Please take a moment to review this and have a bite to eat before the meeting too."

Kankuro places a firm hand on my head and tussles my hair.

Gaara took to the papers and read through them one by one ignoring the food on his desk.

"I tried too Temari-chan." I said flattening my hair out.

Temari smiled in response.

"How much time do I have?" Gaara-sama questioned.

"About 20 minutes." Replies Kankuro as he peeped out the window behind Gaara's seat. "Do you need more time?"

"No." Gaara-sama said continuing to read.

The meeting today about something or other held by the elders was one of two things. Much needed or just a gripe session in which they tried to bend Gaara to their preferences of a leader. To me Gaara was an excellent leader. If any of them would take the time to get to know him, they would see what he was in the past is nothing like the man he is today.

Looking to Gaara I can't help but stare. His deep red hair dis-shuffled as usual, his light green eyes like pools of water. I found myself drifting off again. Should I tell him what I am feeling? As a woman to a man. Or is this out of place to a superior? My day dream ended as Gaara-sama stood from his seat to leave the office.

"Matsuri, please do a sweep of the village and check with the gate nin to make sure everything is in line while we attend this meeting." Temari said following Gaara and Kankuro out of the office.

"Hai." I replied anxious to fulfill my orders.

Temari popped her head back into the doorway. "Oh, and Matsuri, Gaara has requested a training session with you this evening to review that new jutsu you were working on so don't forget." She added with a smile and walked out of sight.

Great! A much needed session with Gaara-sama today. That's just what I've been waiting for all week. I have to show him, I must impress him! I bounced excited before heading off to my duties.

Gaara pov

What a meeting. Just as I thought. Another debate. I have, again, conformed on my stance today to appease the elders of this village. This is one of the only times I'm happy to be going back to my office to work on more reports.

Matsuri... Her name repeated again in my head. It was strange. She had been on my mind the entire meeting. Opening the door to my office, my eyes scan the room. It is bare. She's normally waiting here after my meetings are done. I go to the window and sweep my eyes over the landscape. After she has confirmed the villages well being I'm sure she will return.

KNOCK KNOCK

An urgent message from another leader is asking for a skilled shinobi team. Our ally country needs a hand apprehending some escaped prisoners. I look to the shinobi roster to see who is currently available in the village. Chunin and Genin should be fine for this mission. I alert Kankuro who gathers the group and disperses them immediately. We get requests such as these often now that we have managed to mend our relations with the bordering countries and villages. As I finish logging the mission my mind drifts.

Matsuri… Again? I am beginning to understand what this is. This strange feeling when ever she isn't around. It's distracting. I purposely try to keep her near by passing her up for lengthy missions. I keep her here with me in the village so I can keep sane. But I usually say it's to protect the village. I'm plagued with thoughts of this nature all the time; my selfishness, my over protectiveness. How can I relay this to her? Or is it even suitable being that I am her sensei?

"Oi, Gaara-sama," Matsuri is back and her report is good.

Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything is average. I speak.

"Today around sunset we can train down in the old courts where there is little distraction."

"Hai, sensei." She replies. I can see a big grin on her face. She is always ready to train. I'm lucky to have such a student. I too anticipate our session as the day continues on normally.

Later that evening

I arrive at the court yard. Matsuri is there already. I can sense her preparedness. Her chakra levels are highs. We begin almost without words. I am not going to go easy on her.

She is supposed to unveil her new jutsu today and as her sensei I have to invoke the true shinobi in her. No cutting corners. No playing games. She is sweating, bruised, and out of breath as we have been here for three hours now. I'm glad to see her using her Youhyou as both a weapon and a shield, as I have always taught her. She has become a master at using it. She has proved yet again that she is becoming a phenomenal fighter. I could not have asked for a better student. No one more determined. More focused. More precious.

Matsuri pov

DAMN! I thought as I climbed back to my feet after Gaara-sensei's last attack destroyed me. This session with Gaara-sensei has been a tough one. Some how I think I managed to impress him though. My knees are scraped, elbows sore, clothes are dirty and torn but I couldn't care less. My new move went off without a hitch, even if it didn't hit him he knows I worked hard to show off. He knows what I can do with determination. I will soon rank as a Jonin and I could hope for nothing more but to get that recognition and praise from him on that day.

Gaara... I thought silently as I watched him descend from his platform of sand to the ground. His sand collected and went back into his gourd. Gaara-sensei stood before me with not a scratch or speck of dirt on him. He still has the ultimate defense. I mused mesmerized by his effortless control of sand. I managed to get close to landing a few moves on him but obviously I didn't affect him too much. He walked toward me, I was breathing heavy from the battle still. Something about him seemed different today. He doesn't take these meetings lightly but this one was very high pace.

"Good, Matsuri. You have improved even more." Gaara complimented.

I almost got lost in his words. "Arigato, sensei. I learn a lot from our training sessions. I hope to keep moving forward with you." I said with a bow. Wait, what the hell did I just say? Moving forward with you?

Gaara nodded.

"Sensei when do you think we can train again?" I presss. We don't train as much as we used to. I know he is very busy as a kage but I do miss having this special time with him. Just the two of us.

He stood up straight with his arms folded over his chest, focused on the moon then he looked at me. "At this rate you won't need me anymore." He stated blandly.

I thought I saw him trying to smile as a small turn in the corner of his mouth became visible. Those lips… "I can only hope to shadow my teacher." I said in a suggestive tone. Why? Why was I flirting with my master right now? The Kazekage? Wait did he notice? "Gaara-sama would you like to maybe...uhmmmm come to my apartment for some refreshments. I mean, we can stop since it's on your way back to the tower...if you wish sensei..." I totally screwed up now. What if he thought I was propositioning him...wait was I?